Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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EZRA'S MOURNING. |
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EZRA'S MOURNING.
“Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went
into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib; and when he
came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he
mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried
away.”
—Ezra, x. 6.
Art thou of Ezra's seed,
Mourning, like him, transgressors led away?
Mourn on! thy holy creed
Foretells thy blessing in a future day.
Mourning, like him, transgressors led away?
Mourn on! thy holy creed
Foretells thy blessing in a future day.
What though thine eyes be dim
With tears for others who themselves shed none;
Thou yet mayst know, like him,
That joy which only can through grief be won.
With tears for others who themselves shed none;
Thou yet mayst know, like him,
That joy which only can through grief be won.
Thy soul, in brighter days,
The oil of joy for mourning may possess;
And the glad garb of praise
For the dark vesture of thy heaviness.
The oil of joy for mourning may possess;
And the glad garb of praise
For the dark vesture of thy heaviness.
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Thine eye may see restored
Some for whose bondage thou hast sorrow'd long;
The halt, by thee deplored,
May walk again, the dumb break forth in song.
Some for whose bondage thou hast sorrow'd long;
The halt, by thee deplored,
May walk again, the dumb break forth in song.
Some son of Elam yet,
Among the mourning congregation round,
Thy purpose may abet,
Nor leave thee till success thy prayers have crown'd.
Among the mourning congregation round,
Thy purpose may abet,
Nor leave thee till success thy prayers have crown'd.
If no such aid appear,
Blessings rest on the path by mourners trod,
And not a single tear
Falls from their eyes unnotic'd by their God.
Blessings rest on the path by mourners trod,
And not a single tear
Falls from their eyes unnotic'd by their God.
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